501 research outputs found
Pretreatment tumour-antigen Ta-4 in serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Cervical cancer survivors’ and partners’ experiences with sexual dysfunction and psychosexual support
Cervix cancerGynecolog
The Chandra XBootes Survey - III: Optical and Near-IR Counterparts
The XBootes Survey is a 5-ks Chandra survey of the Bootes Field of the NOAO
Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS). This survey is unique in that it is the largest
(9.3 deg^2), contiguous region imaged in X-ray with complementary deep optical
and near-IR observations. We present a catalog of the optical counterparts to
the 3,213 X-ray point sources detected in the XBootes survey. Using a Bayesian
identification scheme, we successfully identified optical counterparts for 98%
of the X-ray point sources. The optical colors suggest that the optically
detected galaxies are a combination of z<1 massive early-type galaxies and
bluer star-forming galaxies whose optical AGN emission is faint or obscured,
whereas the majority of the optically detected point sources are likely quasars
over a large redshift range. Our large area, X-ray bright, optically deep
survey enables us to select a large sub-sample of sources (773) with high X-ray
to optical flux ratios (f_x/f_o>10). These objects are likely high redshift
and/or dust obscured AGN. These sources have generally harder X-ray spectra
than sources with 0.1<f_x/f_o<10. Of the 73 X-ray sources with no optical
counterpart in the NDWFS catalog, 47 are truly optically blank down to R~25.5
(the average 50% completeness limit of the NDWFS R-band catalogs). These
sources are also likely to be high redshift and/or dust obscured AGN.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures, ApJ accepted. Catalog can be found at:
http://www.noao.edu/noao/noaodeep or
ftp://archive.noao.edu/pub/catalogs/xbootes
Experiences, adherence and satisfaction with a combined exercise and dietary intervention for patients with ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy:A mixed-methods study
Objective: This study examined experiences, adherence and satisfaction with a combined exercise and dietary intervention in patients with ovarian cancer and their healthcare professionals (HCPs) as part of the randomized PADOVA trial. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used in 24 patients with ovarian cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy who were randomly allocated to a combined exercise and dietary intervention or usual care with counseling sessions post-treatment. Qualitative data on intervention experiences, adherence and satisfaction was collected using semi-structured interviews with patients and their HCPs (n = 18 physical therapists; n = 5 dietitians). Quantitative data on adherence and satisfaction was collected to provide context to qualitative data. Results: Exercise relative dose intensity ranged from 36 to 100% (median 72%) and patients attended 33–133% (median 100%) of the prescribed dietary counseling sessions. Patients appreciated guidance on exercise and nutrition and perceived benefits including improved physical fitness, quality of life, peer support and recovery after surgery and/or chemotherapy cycles. Both patients and HCPs were satisfied with the intervention and perceived that participation exceeded prior expectations. Median patient satisfaction score with the intervention was 8.5 out of 10. Suggestions for improving the intervention included further personalization of the number, content and scheduling of the sessions to preferences of patients and HCPs. Patients in the usual care group reported counseling sessions post-chemotherapy to be too little too late. Conclusions: Patients with ovarian cancer adhered well to the intervention. Numerous perceived benefits of the intervention were reported by patients and HCPs. Good adherence and positive experiences support successful implementation in clinical practice
Combined array-comparative genomic hybridization and single-nucleotide polymorphism-loss of heterozygosity analysis reveals complex genetic alterations in cervical cancer
BACKGROUND: Cervical carcinoma develops as a result of multiple genetic alterations. Different studies investigated genomic alterations in cervical cancer mainly by means of metaphase comparative genomic hybridization (mCGH) and microsatellite marker analysis for the detection of loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Currently, high throughput methods such as array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH), single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) and gene expression arrays are available to study genome-wide alterations. Integration of these 3 platforms allows detection of genomic alterations at high resolution and investigation of an association between copy number changes and expression. RESULTS: Genome-wide copy number and genotype analysis of 10 cervical cancer cell lines by array CGH and SNP array showed highly complex large-scale alterations. A comparison between array CGH and SNP array revealed that the overall concordance in detection of the same areas with copy number alterations (CNA) was above 90%. The use of SNP arrays demonstrated that about 75% of LOH events would not have been found by methods which screen for copy number changes, such as array CGH, since these were LOH events without CNA. Regions frequently targeted by CNA, as determined by array CGH, such as amplification of 5p and 20q, and loss of 8p were confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Genome-wide, we did not find a correlation between copy-number and gene expression. At chromosome arm 5p however, 22% of the genes were significantly upregulated in cell lines with amplifications as compared to cell lines without amplifications, as measured by gene expression arrays. For 3 genes, SKP2, ANKH and TRIO, expression differences were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). CONCLUSION: This study showed that copy number data retrieved from either array CGH or SNP array are comparable and that the integration of genome-wide LOH, copy number and gene expression is useful for the identification of gene specific targets that could be relevant for the development and progression in cervical cancer
AEGIS-X: The Chandra Deep Survey of the Extended Groth Strip
We present the AEGIS-X survey, a series of deep Chandra ACIS-I observations
of the Extended Groth Strip. The survey comprises pointings at 8 separate
positions, each with nominal exposure 200ks, covering a total area of
approximately 0.67 deg2 in a strip of length 2 degrees. We describe in detail
an updated version of our data reduction and point source detection algorithms
used to analyze these data. A total of 1325 band-merged sources have been found
to a Poisson probability limit of 4e-6, with limiting fluxes of 5.3e-17
erg/cm2/s in the soft (0.5-2 keV) band and 3.8e-16 erg/cm2/s in the hard (2-10
keV) band. We present simulations verifying the validity of our source
detection procedure and showing a very small, <1.5%, contamination rate from
spurious sources. Optical/NIR counterparts have been identified from the DEEP2,
CFHTLS, and Spitzer/IRAC surveys of the same region. Using a likelihood ratio
method, we find optical counterparts for 76% of our sources, complete to
R(AB)=24.1, and, of the 66% of the sources that have IRAC coverage, 94% have a
counterpart to a limit of 0.9 microJy at 3.6 microns (m(AB)=23.8). After
accounting for (small) positional offsets in the 8 Chandra fields, the
astrometric accuracy of the Chandra positions is found to be 0.8 arcsec RMS,
however this number depends both on the off-axis angle and the number of
detected counts for a given source. All the data products described in this
paper are made available via a public website.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJS. Data products
are available at http://astro.imperial.ac.uk/research/aegis
Association between energy balance-related factors and clinical outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence in patients with ovarian cancer at diagnosis and/or during first-line treatment on; (i) the association of body weight, body composition, diet, exercise, sedentary behavior, or physical fitness with clinical outcomes; and (ii) the effect of exercise and/or dietary interventions. Methods: Risk of bias assessments and best-evidence syntheses were completed. Meta-analyses were performed when ≥ 3 papers presented point estimates and variability measures of associations or effects. Results: Body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis was not significantly associated with survival. Although the following trends were not supported by the best-evidence syntheses, the meta-analyses revealed that a higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of post-surgical complications (n = 5, HR: 1.63, 95 % CI: 1.06 – 2.51, p = 0.030), a higher muscle mass was associated with a better progression-free survival (n = 3, HR: 1.41, 95 % CI: 1.04 – 1.91, p = 0.030) and a higher muscle density was associated with a better overall survival (n = 3, HR: 2.12, 95 % CI: 1.62 – 2.79, p \u3c 0.001). Muscle measures were not significantly associated with surgical or chemotherapy-related outcomes. Conclusions: The prognostic value of baseline BMI for clinical outcomes is limited, but muscle mass and density may have more prognostic potential. High-quality studies with comprehensive reporting of results are required to improve our understanding of the prognostic value of body composition measures for clinical outcomes. Systematic review registration number: PROSPERO identifier CRD42020163058
The XMM-LSS survey: the Class 1 cluster sample over the initial 5 square degrees and its cosmological modelling
We present a sample of 29 galaxy clusters from the XMM-LSS survey over an
area of some 5deg2 out to a redshift of z=1.05. The sample clusters, which
represent about half of the X-ray clusters identified in the region, follow
well defined X-ray selection criteria and are all spectroscopically confirmed.
For all clusters, we provide X-ray luminosities and temperatures as well as
masses. The cluster distribution peaks around z=0.3 and T =1.5 keV, half of the
objects being groups with a temperature below 2 keV. Our L-T(z) relation points
toward self-similar evolution, but does not exclude other physically plausible
models. Assuming that cluster scaling laws follow self-similar evolution, our
number density estimates up to z=1 are compatible with the predictions of the
concordance cosmology and with the findings of previous ROSAT surveys. Our well
monitored selection function allowed us to demonstrate that the inclusion of
selection effects is essential for the correct determination of the evolution
of the L-T relation, which may explain the contradictory results from previous
studies. Extensive simulations show that extending the survey area to 10deg2
has the potential to exclude the non-evolution hypothesis, but that constraints
on more refined ICM models will probably be limited by the large intrinsic
dispersion of the L-T relation. We further demonstrate that increasing the
dispersion in the scaling laws increases the number of detectable clusters,
hence generating further degeneracy [in addition to sigma8, Omega_m, L(M,z) and
T(M,z)] in the cosmological interpretation of the cluster number counts. We
provide useful empirical formulae for the cluster mass-flux and mass-count-rate
relations as well as a comparison between the XMM-LSS mass sensitivity and that
of forthcoming SZ surveys.Comment: Accepted for publication by MNRAS. Full resolution images as well as
additional cluster data are available through a dedicated database at
http://l3sdb.in2p3.fr:8080/l3sdb
New directions in cellular therapy of cancer: a summary of the summit on cellular therapy for cancer
A summit on cellular therapy for cancer discussed and presented advances related to the use of adoptive cellular therapy for melanoma and other cancers. The summit revealed that this field is advancing rapidly. Conventional cellular therapies, such as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), are becoming more effective and more available. Gene therapy is becoming an important tool in adoptive cell therapy. Lymphocytes are being engineered to express high affinity T cell receptors (TCRs), chimeric antibody-T cell receptors (CARs) and cytokines. T cell subsets with more naĂŻve and stem cell-like characteristics have been shown in pre-clinical models to be more effective than unselected populations and it is now possible to reprogram T cells and to produce T cells with stem cell characteristics. In the future, combinations of adoptive transfer of T cells and specific vaccination against the cognate antigen can be envisaged to further enhance the effectiveness of these therapies
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